{ "id": 249209, "name": "THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. BRUCE TRIPP, Defendant-Appellant", "name_abbreviation": "People v. Tripp", "decision_date": "1995-03-10", "docket_number": "No. 1\u201493\u20141581", "first_page": "194", "last_page": "206", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "271 Ill. App. 3d 194" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "Ill. App. Ct.", "id": 8837, "name": "Illinois Appellate Court" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 29, "name_long": "Illinois", "name": "Ill." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "643 N.E.2d 636", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "162 Ill. 2d 314", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 477550 ], "weight": 2, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "374" }, { "page": "375" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/162/0314-01" ] }, { "cite": "606 N.E.2d 1145", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "153 Ill. 2d 155", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 4738931 ], "pin_cites": [ { "page": "163" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/153/0155-01" ] }, { "cite": "636 N.E.2d 902", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "264 Ill. App. 3d 310", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 680611 ], "pin_cites": [ { "page": "316" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/264/0310-01" ] }, { "cite": "423 N.E.2d 221", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "97 Ill. App. 3d 187", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 3113093 ], "pin_cites": [ { "page": "191" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/97/0187-01" ] }, { "cite": "594 N.E.2d 1279", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1981, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "230 Ill. App. 3d 453", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 5211240 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1981, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "470" }, { "page": "464" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/230/0453-01" ] }, { "cite": "595 N.E.2d 1245", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "230 Ill. App. 3d 975", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 5212129 ], "pin_cites": [ { "page": "984" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/230/0975-01" ] }, { "cite": "606 N.E.2d 39", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "237 Ill. App. 3d 1001", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 5162224 ], "pin_cites": [ { "page": "1010" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/237/1001-01" ] }, { "cite": "595 N.E.2d 64", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "230 Ill. App. 3d 356", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 5209484 ], "pin_cites": [ { "page": "362" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/230/0356-01" ] }, { "cite": "597 N.E.2d 696", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1992, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "232 Ill. App. 3d 546", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 8499083 ], "weight": 3, "year": 1992, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "554-55" }, { "page": "555" }, { "page": "555" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/232/0546-01" ] }, { "cite": "604 N.E.2d 294", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "152 Ill. 2d 133", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 5602879 ], "pin_cites": [ { "page": "193" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/152/0133-01" ] }, { "cite": "442 N.E.2d 255", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "92 Ill. 2d 545", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 3097208 ], "weight": 3, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "558" }, { "page": "559-61" }, { "page": "560" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/92/0545-01" ] }, { "cite": "623 N.E.2d 352", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "157 Ill. 2d 68", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 778578 ], "weight": 4, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "79" }, { "page": "68" }, { "page": "81" }, { "page": "78" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/157/0068-01" ] }, { "cite": "613 N.E.2d 706", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "155 Ill. 2d 122", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 4810021 ], "weight": 2, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "140" }, { "page": "140" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/155/0122-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 1176, "char_count": 28300, "ocr_confidence": 0.732, "pagerank": { "raw": 6.593579799292365e-08, "percentile": 0.40333606322221877 }, "sha256": "26b7d4b15ff9936d3c0a36ec117fb9482b5c3b5cb3842d1d7280cf2b878756db", "simhash": "1:7c427539b31ac1b4", "word_count": 4766 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T19:52:56.134317+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [], "parties": [ "THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. BRUCE TRIPP, Defendant-Appellant." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "PRESIDING JUSTICE COUSINS\ndelivered the opinion of the court:\nDefendant Bruce Tripp was convicted in a jury trial of first degree murder in the beating death of two-year-old Deandre Boyce. On appeal, defendant contends that three errors necessitate that he be granted a new trial: (1) the trial court erred in failing to order a mistrial or other relief when the State violated discovery rules by failing to disclose before trial the substance of defendant\u2019s arguments with the victim\u2019s mother, Cheryl Boyce; (2) the trial court erred in allowing Andre McKennie\u2019s testimony as to defendant\u2019s statements when the State had failed to previously disclose the substance of those statements; and (3) defendant was denied a fair trial by the chief medical examiner\u2019s testimony \u201cthe child was beaten to death, period.\u201d\nWe reverse and remand.\nOn Monday, February 8, 1983, as both sides were presenting their pretrial motions, the following colloquy ensued:\n\"MS. LUBELFELD (Defense counsel): Judge, the next motion would be \u2014 we have a motion titled, motion for supplemental discovery. It\u2019s a brief motion that we\u2019re asking \u2014 we are telling the Court that Mr. Tripp relies on all of the discovery that has been tendered by the prosecution. And before the trial begins, he needs to know if there\u2019s any mistakes or any material omissions in any discovery that has been tendered to us before trial.\nMS. MEBANE (the State): Your Honor, that to me presumes something.\nTHE COURT: It\u2019s just basically based upon the continuing obligations of discovery set forth in the rules. Any continuing discovery obligation that has just recently come to your attention?\nMS. MEBANE: Your Honor, nothing recently.\u201d\nThe trial began the next day, Tuesday February 9, 1993. In opening statements, the State argued:\n\"MS. MEBANE: All of the acts that Bruce Tripp performed when he beat this child he did intentionally. You will see evidence of that. You will hear evidence of that. This child was severely beaten because Bruce didn\u2019t like his father; because Bruce wanted his father out of the picture.\u201d\nThe State called Cheryl Boyce as its first witness. Ms. Boyce testified that on September 27 (although apparently September 28), 1989, the defendant came in his car to her home and picked up her and their infant son, Xavier. They went to his house at 4 a.m., at 4323 W. Madison in Chicago, where the defendant wanted to have sex, but Ms. Boyce refused. They also talked for an hour about Ms. Boyce\u2019s former boyfriend, Andre McKennie, and the defendant told Ms. Boyce that he was tired of Mr. McKennie going to her house. The defense objected to these statements on the basis of hearsay but was overruled.\nThat evening, Ms. Boyce\u2019s sisters brought over to the house Ms. Boyce\u2019s other son, Deandre, whose father was Andre McKennie. At 11 p.m., Ms. Boyce left the house to visit a friend and get a change of clothes at her mother\u2019s house. She returned to the defendant\u2019s house at about 1:45 a.m. and stayed in his front room listening to the radio until around 3 a.m. When she went to the bedroom, she heard some vomiting and looked to see that Deandre had just vomited while tucked under a cover. As she went to pick Deandre up, the defendant grabbed him and took him to the washroom, telling Ms. Boyce to change the sheets. A short time later, the defendant came back and told her that Deandre was not breathing. Ms. Boyce asked the defendant what happened, and the defendant replied, \"I threw him up and he fell.\u201d Ms. Boyce and the defendant\u2019s cousin took Deandre to the hospital, while the defendant stated he would meet them at the hospital after taking Xavier from the house to his sister\u2019s house. Deandre died at the hospital, and Ms. Boyce never met the defendant there.\nMs. Boyce then testified as to several previous conversations with the defendant. In these disputes, the defendant indicated he was very jealous of Ms. Boyce ever being with Mr. McKennie, once to the point of beating Ms. Boyce. These disputes included a more detailed version of the McKennie conversation of September 27 (28), 1989. The defense objected that it had not been tendered any of the defendant\u2019s statements in discovery, and the defense twice requested a sidebar. The trial court overruled the objections. The State\u2019s questioning included the following colloquy about a conversation alleged to have occurred in August of 1989 when the defendant saw Mr. McKennie with Ms. Boyce in front of her home:\n\"MS. MEBANE: What if anything did Bruce say to you when he caught you with Andre?\nMS. BOYCE: He say he don\u2019t want to catch me with that punk motherfucker no more.\nMS. MEBANE: Then what happened? What did you say?\nMS. BOYCE: I told him he could come over and see his son.\nMS. MEBANE: What did he say to you?\nMS. BOYCE: He was like, he ain\u2019t have to come over anymore. I buy his stuff.\nMS. MEBANE: What did you say to him?\nMS. BOYCE: I told him it was Andre baby. He buy it.\u201d\nThe State completed its direct examination of Ms. Boyce, and the trial court recessed for lunch. After the jury exited the room, the following colloquy ensued:\n\"MR. O\u2019HARA (Defense counsel): Judge, we would make a continuing objection to the testimony of this witness, specifically to her testimony regarding statements allegedly given by Bruce Tripp over a period of time. ***\nThis is the first time we have ever heard of any of these statements regarding Bruce\u2019s alleged complaints about Andre, about threats, about any beating or fighting with her. Her whole testimony basically regarding the relationship with Bruce Tripp was not contained in any discovery ever tendered to us, and I believe as a statement of the defendant, it should have been tendered to us. It\u2019s clearly prejudicial, and we\u2019d make a motion for a mistrial based upon that.\nTHE COURT: Well, denied. *** [Tjhese are statements made prior to the event in question, not memorialized, not reduced to writing. And I don\u2019t think they are of such magnitude, such significance, that it would violate the defendant\u2019s due process rights by, as you say, hearing them for the first time here.\nMR. O\u2019HARA: I just, just beg to differ about the magnitude of them. It clearly gives motive to this defendant.\nTHE COURT: You are right there. It goes to the defendant\u2019s state of mind whether he, as the defense said in opening statements, loved Andre\u2019s child, or was, did not love Andre\u2019s child and was frustrated and angered by the whole situation. I agree that it does show relevance, and it has some degree of magnitude. ***\nAs a general statement, the State does not have to reduce every statement made by the defendant to writing, or otherwise notify defense counsel. And I believe that the non-notification of the things pointed out by the defense *** does not violate the discovery rules.\u201d\nThe State called Andre McKennie as its next witness. As Mr. McKennie began to recount confrontations with the defendant, the defense objected and asked to be heard in sidebar. The defense indicated that the State had told them that McKennie was to be merely a life-and-death witness. The following colloquy ensued:\n\"THE COURT: I\u2019d ask the State, did you ever tell the defense counsel that this witness was going to only be called for life-and-death?\nMS. MEBANE: *** We indicated he was a life-and-death witness. We asked this witness this morning \u2014 we received information this weekend as to the nature of the relationship between Mr. Tripp and this witness. We were able to hunt him down, have an investigator find him, because we weren\u2019t able to get him. We talked to him prior to lunch. We were unaware of this particular situation until just recently your honor. This was new information to us.\n* * *\nTHE COURT: Then here\u2019s what I think should be done at this point, unless the defense counsel doesn\u2019t care to have it done. Let him be withdrawn as a witness, subject to the defense interviewing him, because I can see where they didn\u2019t interview him before, figuring him only to be a life-and-death witness.\nMR. O\u2019HARA: This is surely a matter the State had knowledge of in talking with Cheryl. It\u2019s not something they found out this morning. They knew this guy was involved in these matters, too.\nTHE COURT: Well, I\u2019m going to say, if you want him withdrawn as a witness now, I will allow you and order him to subject himself to an interview by you before he continues his testimony, if that\u2019s what you would want. Otherwise I\u2019m going to accept the State\u2019s word that, in good faith, they didn\u2019t realize he was going to be able to testify to this, and didn\u2019t even talk to him for the first time until this morning.\u201d\nThe defense then interviewed Mr. McKennie in the judge\u2019s chambers. After completing the interview, this colloquy ensued:\n\"MR. O\u2019HARA: Judge, I would once again renew my objection to Mr. McKennie testifying. At this point we cannot be prepared to conduct a meaningful cross-examination of this witness with the short period we had to examine him. Plus, what he is testifying to, once again, are materials not tendered to us. It clearly goes to motive. *** And to allow him to testify at this point would be a violation of the discovery rules. ***\nTHE COURT: *** [A]ll things considered, particularly the fact that the State was not aware, as you were not aware and therefore, did nothing intentional with respect to take you by surprise, I\u2019m going to allow him to testify over the defense objection.\u201d\nMr. McKennie testified that while driving with Ms. Boyce and Xavier in July of 1989, he was confronted by the defendant, who was a passenger in a car driven by his cousin. The defendant told him to pull over or he would start shooting. A car chase ensued in which the defendant\u2019s car hit McKennie\u2019s car once, and then McKennie\u2019s car pulled away.\nFollowing Mr. McKennie\u2019s testimony, Officer David Cartalano testified that about 6 a.m. on September 29, 1989, he went to 4323 W. Madison in Chicago to look for the defendant and a baby. When he arrived he heard a baby cry, and he forced the door to the home open. The baby was left alone on a bed, while a window was left open to the back porch.\nDr. Robert Stein performed the autopsy on Deandre Boyce. He testified that the victim had blood on his lips and in both nostrils. The victim\u2019s scalp had linear abrasions which were consistent with the dragging of the victim. Underneath the scalp a hemorrhage was present which measured 1.5 inches. The victim\u2019s testes were swollen to twice their normal size, due to trauma. The doctor counted 100 bruises on the victim on all areas of his body above the legs, consistent with being caused by knuckles. The membranes holding the intestines were torn, causing internal hemorrhaging. The victim had a red area on his anus, consistent with a nonphallic foreign object being placed there, but also consistent with an acid loose stool or a hard stool from constipation. Below the victim\u2019s right ear were punctate marks consistent with injuries made by a needle. The doctor stated that the victim died from multiple external and internal injuries. On cross-examination, Dr. Stein stated that the facial injuries could be consistent with some types of falls, and that children and some individuals bruise more easily. The victim had no fractures, nor internal injuries to any other organs.\nFollowing the close of re-cross-examination, the trial court began the following colloquy:\n\"THE COURT: Doctor, what again was the cause of death in the case in your opinion?\nDR. STEIN: In my opinion, multiple external and internal injuries. The child was beaten to death, period.\nMR. O\u2019HARA: Objection, Judge.\nTHE COURT: Well, 'the child was beaten to death\u2019 will be stricken. The first portion will stand.\u201d\nDr. John Kenney testified as a dental expert, examining three bite marks on the left arm of Deandre. Dr. Kenney stated that he believed to a reasonable certainty that one bite mark matched the lower dentition of the defendant\u2019s teeth, and another mark probably matched the lower dentition of the defendant\u2019s teeth. Dr. Kenney testified that the third bite was a suck mark or \"hickie\u201d that was inflicted at approximately the same time as the other two bites. No skin was broken on any of the bites.\nThe State then called Detective James Capesius. Detective Capesius testified that he spoke to the defendant when he came to the police station voluntarily on the afternoon of September 30, 1989. Following the Miranda warnings, the defendant told Detective Capesius that he had been \"thumping\u201d Deandre by putting his thumb on two or three fingers and thrusting the fingers out. The defendant was doing this because he did not want Deandre to grow up to be a sissy. The defendant told Detective Capesius that he was tossing Deandre in the air but failed to catch him one time, and he came down wrong and landed on the carpeting. The defendant denied using any hard drugs that night, stating that he had smoked marijuana around noon that day. After Deandre was taken to the hospital, the defendant stated that he stayed with his own infant for a few minutes but then grabbed his gun and stayed in a local hotel until he came to turn himself in.\nThe State next called Patricia Wolfe, a former assistant State\u2019s Attorney. She was present for the same interview with the defendant as Detective Capesius, and she reiterated almost exactly his testimony regarding the defendant\u2019s description of the incident with Deandre. However, she did not testify as to the latter stages of the interview, which included the defendant\u2019s drug usage that day and what the defendant had stated he did following the victim\u2019s being taken to the hospital.\nThe defense presented Carolyn Tripp, the defendant\u2019s sister, and Felisa Hyde, the defendant\u2019s cousin. Both testified that the defendant loved and cared for Deandre, taking care of him more often than Ms. Boyce. Neither had ever seen the defendant mistreat Deandre.\nFelisa Hyde also testified that the defendant had a very serious drug problem and that on September 27, 1989, she had seen the defendant snort white powder up his nose five times. She testified that after the defendant inhaled the powder he looked high, in that his eyes were red and slow and his voice had changed. She next saw the defendant at 6 a.m., September 29, 1989. Ms. Hyde testified that the defendant looked high when he came over, in that he was behaving the same as he had after he had inhaled powder on September 27, 1989, and on other occasions after Ms. Hyde had seen the defendant inhale powder.\nAt 6 a.m. on September 29, 1989, Ms. Hyde was staying at her cousin Joyce\u2019s house, and the defendant came over to Joyce\u2019s house and telephoned his sister Carolyn to go to his house and get his baby. Ms. Hyde, Joyce, and the defendant then went to the hospital, driven there by a friend. Ms. Hyde and Joyce then entered the hospital and found out that the victim was dead. As they left the hospital, they met the defendant, who was walking in. Ms. Hyde told the defendant to get back in the car because the victim was dead and the police were looking for him. Ms. Hyde, Joyce, and the defendant then went back to Joyce\u2019s house.\nFollowing Ms. Hyde, the defense called Ms. Mieszala, who was certified by the court as an expert in the field of clinical social work. Ms. Mieszala testified that she conducted a clinical interview with the defendant on April 8, 1992. She spoke with the defendant and gave him six psychological tests. She scored the tests and then gave them to Dr. Vincent Pisani for evaluation. The defendant had told her that he was using heroin, cocaine, marijuana, and alcohol on September 29, 1989. She also discussed her conversations with the defendant to Dr. Pisani.\nThe defense next called Dr. Vincent Pisani. He testified as an expert in the fields of clinical psychology and addictive behavior. Dr. Pisani interpreted the results from the tests and the clinical interview given by Ms. Mieszala, and he testified it was not necessary for him to have actually seen the defendant for his results to be valid. Dr. Pisani concluded that the defendant was very likely a polydrug-dependant individual. Dr. Pisani testified that, assuming the defendant had snorted a large amount of heroin on September 27, 1989, he probably could not form the intent to kill. The following colloquy ensued:\n\"MS. LUBELFELD: How did you arrive at that opinion?\nDR. PISANI: Because his judgment would have been impaired and his judgment and thinking would have been slowed down. He also at the same time, if he in fact has an alcohol-drug problem or a polydrug problem, would be in a state where he would be somewhat impulse ridden, that is to say he wouldn\u2019t have too much control over certain impulses. So I would say it would be unlikely he would be able to formulate or form an intent to kill.\u201d\nIn its closing argument, the State reiterated several times the defendant\u2019s statements about McKennie and his jealousy motive, concluding:\n\"MS. MEBANE: And when he realized that Cheryl\u2019s attention would have to be divided between him and Andre McKennie because of Deandre, that was it. There was only one way to solve his problem. There was only one way to make sure that Andre McKennie didn\u2019t come around any more. And that was to dispose of his son, to get rid of his son.\u201d\nThe jury retired and was given verdict forms for first degree murder, involuntary manslaughter, and not guilty. The jury found the defendant guilty of first degree murder, and the trial court sentenced him to 66 years of incarceration.\nOPINION\nAt oral argument, the State admitted that it had violated discovery procedures under Supreme Court Rule 412(a)(ii). (134 Ill. 2d R. 412(a).) Rule 412(a)(ii) states:\n\"(a) Except as is otherwise provided in these rules as to matters not subject to disclosure and protective orders, the State shall, upon written motion of defense counsel, disclose to defense counsel the following material or information within its possession or control:\n(ii) any written or recorded statements and the substance of any oral statements made by the accused or by a codefendant, and a list of witnesses to the making and acknowledging of such statements.\u201d (134 Ill. 2d R. 412(a)(ii).)\nPursuant to this rule, the defense had made a written motion before trial for any witnesses presenting statements of the accused and had requested the substance of those statements. Although the State has a continuing duty to disclose additional discovery under Rule 415 (134 Ill. 2d R. 415), the defense made an additional oral request the day before trial for any recent discovery the State was required to present.\nThe State violated Rule 412(a)(ii) by not tendering the substance of defendant\u2019s statements which the State learned from Ms. Boyce. The State apparently learned of defendant\u2019s statements the weekend before the trial. The State has the duty to disclose to the defense, upon request, the substance of all oral and written statements made by the defendant and known by the State. (People v. R.D. (1993), 155 Ill. 2d 122, 140, 613 N.E.2d 706.) The purpose of the discovery provision is to afford the accused protection against surprise, unfairness and inadequate preparation. (People v. Robinson (1993), 157 Ill. 2d 68, 79, 623 N.E.2d 352.) This rule is not limited to formal statements made to the authorities, but encompasses any statements made to anyone that might have a bearing on the defendant\u2019s guilt or innocence. (R.D., 155 Ill. 2d at 140.) The nondisclosure was a violation whether or not the State\u2019s conduct was inadvertent or purposeful. People v. Weaver (1983), 92 Ill. 2d 545, 558, 442 N.E.2d 255.\nHowever, the failure to comply with discovery requirements does not always necessitate a new trial. While compliance with the discovery rules is mandatory, the failure to comply with these requirements does not require a reversal absent a showing of surprise or undue prejudice. (Robinson, 157 Ill. 2d at 68.) A new trial should only be granted if the defendant is prejudiced by the discovery violation and the trial court fails to eliminate the prejudice. (People v. Pasch (1992), 152 Ill. 2d 133, 193, 604 N.E.2d 294.) As to the latter test, the trial court overruled all defense objections and thus clearly failed to eliminate any prejudice in this matter.\nIn looking at the test of prejudice, the State first contends that the defendant has waived all claims of prejudice by his failing to request a continuance after Boyce had presented her testimony. We disagree, because the defense was unable to request a continuance before the damage had already been accomplished by Boyce\u2019s testimony. In Weaver, even though the defendant refused to accept a continuance following damaging testimony, the Illinois Supreme Court remanded for a new trial because the testimony had occurred before it was possible for the defendant to request a continuance. (Weaver, 92 Ill. 2d at 559-61.) Because the damaging testimony was already in evidence, a continuance may not have been an appropriate remedy in the middle of the trial. (People v. Agyei (1992), 232 Ill. App. 3d 546, 554-55, 597 N.E.2d 696.) After a trial court overrules the defense objections, the failure to request a continuance should not preclude review. People v. McFee (1992), 230 Ill. App. 3d 356, 362, 595 N.E.2d 64.\nConsequently, we must determine if this violation was unduly prejudicial to the defendant or, as the State maintains, merely harmless error. Among the factors in determining whether a defendant is entitled to a new trial from a discovery violation of the State are the willfulness of the State in failing to disclose the new evidence, the closeness of the evidence, and the likelihood that prior notice could have helped the defense discredit the evidence. Robinson, 157 Ill. 2d at 81.\nAssessing the first factor, we conclude that the State acted willfully in this discovery violation. The defense made a request for additional discovery immediately following the weekend during which the State learned of the defendant\u2019s statements from Ms. Boyce. The State has provided no explanation for its failure to tender any information to the defense. In similar circumstances, we have found the actions of the State \"apparently willful.\u201d (Agyei, 232 Ill. App. 3d at 555.) Moreover, this was not an isolated statement or piece of evidence, but an entire area of the State\u2019s case against the defendant. The State surprised the defense with its motive testimony, and there is nothing to indicate that the State did not specifically intend to ambush the defense at trial with these statements.\nIn examining the evidence against the defendant, the State argues that its case was overwhelming even without testimony of the defendant\u2019s statements. Indeed, the physical injuries of the victim were quite extensive. However, the State\u2019s argument is undercut by the tremendous importance it placed on the defendant\u2019s statements in its opening and closing arguments. The State repeatedly argued that the defendant\u2019s jealousy to keep McKennie away from Ms. Boyce drove the defendant to kill their child. We do not believe the victim\u2019s injuries, in isolation, were overwhelming evidence of the defendant\u2019s intent in inflicting them.\nThe final factor is the likelihood that prior notice could have helped the defense discredit the evidence. The burden of showing surprise or prejudice is upon the defendant (Robinson, 157 Ill. 2d at 78), and we believe the defendant has made a sufficient showing. Intent was the crucial issue in this matter. In multiple interviews of Ms. Boyce, by the State\u2019s Attorney\u2019s office, police officers and detectives, and Aid to Families with Dependent Children, Ms. Boyce had never mentioned any arguments with the defendant over McKennie. She had called the defendant her boyfriend, and she had no idea of any motive for the incident. The defense was surprised at trial by her new recounting of incidents which may have given the defendant a jealousy motive, evidence which the trial court found \"does show relevance, and it has some degree of magnitude.\u201d\nThe prejudice resulting from surprise, unfairness, and inadequate preparation, as well as from the lack of opportunity to investigate the circumstances surrounding undisclosed alleged statements, is so incalculable that it cannot be conjectured by the court. (People v. Ramey (1992), 237 Ill. App. 3d 1001, 1010, 606 N.E.2d 39.) It would be unsubstantiated speculation to say that prior notice could not have helped the defense. (See Agyei, 232 Ill. App. 3d at 555.) Motive evidence was an important ingredient in establishing guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, and we cannot say that the defendant could not accomplish a better defense given adequate time to prepare for this aspect of the State\u2019s case. See Weaver, 92 Ill. 2d at 560.\nIn addition to the testimony by Ms. Boyce, the State also admits error in not tendering the defendant\u2019s statements it planned to elicit from Mr. McKennie, in violation of Rule 412. Even if the State learned of McKennie\u2019s testimony immediately prior to calling him to testify, the State had the duty to first inform the defense. (People v. Valdez (1992), 230 Ill. App. 3d 975, 984, 595 N.E.2d 1245 (\"Even if the State only learned of the officers\u2019 statements the morning of trial, this does not excuse its failure to disclose this information\u201d).) However, because the defendant learned of the State\u2019s evidence almost immediately after the State did, before any significant testimony by the witness, the prejudice to the defendant was minimized. Until the State interviews a witness and knows of the particular statements allegedly given by the defendant, the information is not within the State\u2019s \"possession or control\u201d under the provisions of Rule 412(a). (See People v. Hemphill (1992), 230 Ill. App. 3d 453, 470, 594 N.E.2d 1279; People v. Young (1981), 97 Ill. App. 3d 187, 191, 423 N.E.2d 221 (State did not have \"definitive knowledge\u201d of evidence).) Moreover, defense counsel was given and took advantage of the opportunity to interview the witness before he testified, substantially curing any prejudice involved. See People v. Weber (1994), 264 Ill. App. 3d 310, 316, 636 N.E.2d 902; Hemphill, 230 Ill. App. 3d at 464.\nAlthough the defendant suffered no substantial additional prejudice from the introduction of Mr. McKennie\u2019s testimony, the State\u2019s nondisclosure reemphasizes its callous attitude toward the discovery provisions. This is especially true considering that the State did not inform the defense even after the extended discussion pertaining to the testimony of Ms. Boyce. Lastly, we believe that the State should have informed the defense before trial of its intention to use Mr. McKennie as more than a life-and-death witness, contrary to its earlier communication. Although the State has no obligation to classify witnesses (People v. Jones (1992), 153 Ill. 2d 155, 163, 606 N.E.2d 1145), the State does have a duty to correct any misleading characterizations it has made.\nWe believe an analysis of relevant factors shows that the defendant suffered prejudice in this matter that was not cured by the trial court. We cannot say the prejudice from the errors was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt, and thus reversal is required. (People v. Cruz (1994), 162 Ill. 2d 314, 374, 643 N.E.2d 636.) Because the evidence was sufficient to support a finding of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, defendant faces no risk of double jeopardy and may be retried. (Cruz, 162 Ill. 2d at 375.) Since we must reverse the defendant\u2019s conviction in this matter, we need not address his contentions as to the opinion testimony of Dr. Stein.\nFor the foregoing reasons, the judgment of the trial court is reversed and set aside, and the cause is remanded for further proceedings in accordance herewith.\nReversed and remanded.\nMcNULTY and T. O\u2019BRIEN, JJ, concur.", "type": "majority", "author": "PRESIDING JUSTICE COUSINS" } ], "attorneys": [ "Rita A. Fry, Public Defender, of Chicago (Hugh Stevens, Assistant Public Defender, of counsel), for appellant.", "Jack O\u2019Malley, State\u2019s Attorney, of Chicago (Renee Goldfarb, William D. Carroll, and Eileen Rubin, Assistant State\u2019s Attorneys, of counsel), for the People." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. BRUCE TRIPP, Defendant-Appellant.\nFirst District (5th Division)\nNo. 1\u201493\u20141581\nOpinion filed March 10, 1995.\nRehearing denied April 6, 1995.\nRita A. Fry, Public Defender, of Chicago (Hugh Stevens, Assistant Public Defender, of counsel), for appellant.\nJack O\u2019Malley, State\u2019s Attorney, of Chicago (Renee Goldfarb, William D. Carroll, and Eileen Rubin, Assistant State\u2019s Attorneys, of counsel), for the People." }, "file_name": "0194-01", "first_page_order": 214, "last_page_order": 226 }